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Top Bar Top Entrance is it too big?

So I built a TBH over the winter and I pick up my first package this afternoon! My wife and son have been helping prepare things and we are very excited. I created about a 4/8" gap with two screws that prevent the first top bar from covering the hive all the way creating a gap where bees can enter and exit here are some pics the first being the entrance:

Here is the hive with the roof off. I cut a piece of trailer underpinning for the roof and there wasn't enough of a peak to let water drain off during a rain we had so I put these boards under it to help drain off the water which worked fine. I have 4 bricks on top of the under pinning where the wood pieces lay to keep it in place. By the way this isn't its permanent hive stand this was an early version now it is 2 cinderblocks high on each side and up on some 4 x 4 posts between them so higher up off the ground.

My question is the entrance too long/big for a new package is it too much area for them to defend? I plan on putting a baggie feeder in with them and don't want to kick off robbing. I could take out one of the screws on one end and push it flush but that would obviously throw off all the other bars so not sure. Is this entrance the way Michael Bush does his its hard to tell from the pics on his site.

Re: Top Bar Top Entrance is it too big?

Cut it down to about 1" opening. We accomplished this using a straight stick (dowel rod would work) or a small piece of plywood. I wouldn't leave the whole top open, you're asking for robbing with a new package.

Re: Top Bar Top Entrance is it too big?

Thanks for the reply ruthiesbees. One more question on the package. I have made a follower board and put it in so it cuts the hive in half allowing about 18 bars for the package. Which bar would I dangle the queen cage from or does it matter? I was thinking about 3 or 4 bars back from the entrance but was just guessing.

Re: Top Bar Top Entrance is it too big?

That sounds like a good spot. My bees keep their brood patch on bars 3-10. The first 2 bars are partial comb and the ones in the back are honey. As much as I rearrange the bars (last summer), they never seemed to put anything in the first 2 bars of comb. Mine has a side entrance near the front of the box so it would be very similar to yours, except mine in a bottom entrance. My new hive this year will have a top entrance like you have, and my package arrives this Sat. Can't wait to compare the 2.